Sea The Stars brother to Sea Of Class makes debut at Nottingham on Wednesday

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

Sea Of Kings

Ladies Day 10th May "Confined" Maiden Stakes (3.05 Nottingham, Wednesday)

What's the story?

A particularly well-bred son of Sea The Stars takes his racecourse bow at Nottingham on Wednesday in Sea Of Kings. 

Trained by Harry Eustace for Clipper Logistics, the three-year-old had sold to Joe Foley for €250,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale in 2022. He was bred by Razza Del Velino Srl.

How's he bred?

Sea Of Kings is the 14th foal out of the stakes-winning Hernando mare Holy Moon and is therefore a brother to the top-class, although sadly ill-fated, Sea Of Class. That filly had appropriately sported the silks of Sunderland Holding to success in the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks for William Haggas, doing so in the style of a top-notch performer. 

Sea Of Class (James Doyle, right) beats Forever Together in the Irish Oaks at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann

She had also finished a fast-finishing second to Enable in the Arc that year, arguably denied by a wide draw. Sadly that was the penultimate racecourse start for Sea Of Class as she suffered colic and was then found to have a tumour after a brave battle to save her. 

The two Sea The Stars siblings are also related to Italian Group 1 winners Charity Line and Final Score, by Manduro and Dylan Thomas respectively, as well as fellow Italian Group winners Cherry Collect, by Oratorio, and Wordless (Rock Of Gibraltar). 

Dam Holy Moon has produced 13 winners from 13 runners with eight of her offspring earning black-type. She is out of a half-sister to Group 1 Oaks d'Italia winner Bright Generation, second dam of Prix Morny and Prix Jean–Luc Lagardere winner and sire Dabirsim.

Who does he face?

Among the colt's rivals is another son of Sea The Stars in Shadwell's homebred Munsif. The Roger Varian debutant is out of the Raven's Pass mare Mubhirah, a half-sister to Sea The Stars' brilliant Oaks and King George heroine Taghrooda.

Another to note is the once-raced Too Darn Hot colt Cameron Highlander, a half-brother to Group 3 winner Sporting Chance from the family of top-class miler Poet's Voice.

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